Hairston–Smith–Slobodkin hypothesis
E496569
The Hairston–Smith–Slobodkin hypothesis is an influential ecological theory proposing that predators keep herbivore populations in check, allowing plant biomass to flourish and helping explain why the world is "green."
Statements (45)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
ecological hypothesis
ⓘ
top-down control hypothesis ⓘ trophic theory ⓘ |
| addressesQuestion |
what processes maintain high plant biomass in many ecosystems
ⓘ
why herbivores do not consume all available plant biomass ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs |
HSS hypothesis
ⓘ
green world hypothesis NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| appliesTo |
aquatic ecosystems
ⓘ
terrestrial ecosystems ⓘ |
| assumes |
competition among plants is more important than herbivory in limiting plant biomass
ⓘ
plants are not strongly limited by herbivory at the ecosystem scale ⓘ predators are effective in reducing herbivore densities ⓘ |
| contrastsWith | purely bottom-up resource control models ⓘ |
| coreClaim |
herbivores are kept below the level at which they can consume all available plant biomass
ⓘ
plant biomass remains relatively high because herbivores are controlled by predators ⓘ predators limit herbivore populations ⓘ |
| criticizedFor |
assuming uniform predator control across systems
ⓘ
oversimplifying food web complexity ⓘ underestimating the role of bottom-up forces ⓘ |
| emphasizes | top-down regulation in food webs ⓘ |
| explains | why terrestrial ecosystems appear green ⓘ |
| field | ecology ⓘ |
| focusesOn | interactions among plants, herbivores, and predators ⓘ |
| hasImplication |
increased herbivore abundance can reduce plant biomass
ⓘ
predator conservation can indirectly protect plant communities ⓘ removal of predators can increase herbivore abundance ⓘ |
| historicalSignificance | helped shift ecological focus from competition alone to multi-trophic interactions ⓘ |
| influencedConcept |
top-down vs bottom-up control debate
ⓘ
trophic cascades ⓘ |
| influencedField |
community ecology
ⓘ
food web theory ⓘ trophic ecology ⓘ |
| namedAfter |
Frederick E. Smith
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Lawrence B. Slobodkin NERFINISHED ⓘ Nelson G. Hairston Sr. NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| proposedInPublication | “Community Structure, Population Control, and Competition” NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| publicationYear | 1960 ⓘ |
| publishedInJournal | The American Naturalist NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
bottom-up control theory
ⓘ
exploitation ecosystems hypothesis ⓘ top-down control theory ⓘ trophic cascade hypothesis ⓘ |
| status | influential but debated in modern ecology ⓘ |
| subfield |
community ecology
ⓘ
population ecology ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.